Ambiguous laws ‘put young at risk of STIs and pregnancy’

YOUNG people are at risk of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies because of ambiguous contraception laws, the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) has warned.

The IFPA said the legal status of prescribing contraception to young people under the age of 16 was very unclear and this lack of clarity was a serious deterrent to those needing sexual health services. It also posed a major dilemma for doctors who must provide a confidential service that is in the best interest of their patient. The situation was further complicated with the age of sexual consent set at 17.

The IFPA said it welcomed Law Reform Commission proposals on the teenage consent issue but felt some of the terminology used was unclear, a situation that undermined the effectiveness of what was being put forward.